"A charming romp through opera legends, some fact, some fiction, all delightfully assembled and sparklingly presented. An opera lovers' handbook that should always be near at hand."--Schuyler G. Chapin"[An] entertaining anthology of opera fact and fiction....The author obviously relishes his task and has chosen the material well."--Library Journal"Entertaining and frequently insightful....A very fine book; it is well worth reading."--Best Sellers"Mordden, who knows his way around backstage...has gleefully amassed hundreds of such anecdotes, exchanges and choice bits of opera lore."--Time"Mordden...has collected some of the most famous anecdotes--fact and fiction--to keep the conversation at many a music-lover's table humming."--Daily Press, Newport News, VA"A thoroughly charming and light-hearted panorama of fact and fiction."--The Evening Gazette, Worcester, MA"Mordden is one of the more entertaining--at times outrageous--popular writers on opera....He writes with authority and conviction....Highly entertaining."--Opera Journal"Romping good fun."--Buffalo News"A rare and delightful tour through the world of opera, led by a writer who has a firm grasp of his subject and tells his tales with alternate wit and poignancy....A wealth of information, as well as some lore about virtually every phase of opera life and production."--Charleston Evening Post"An entertaining collection for the opera lover or for the after-dinner speaker to mine for amusing stories."--Antiquarian Bookman

Review:

`Students of historical perspective in vocal and instrumental stylistics will find much to enrich their musical awareness.' Music Journal

`a highly recommended purchase' Music Journal

`admirably informative book' Music Journal

`there are some gems...The perfect thing if you are convalescing from an overdose of bel canto - or can belto.' Brian Fallon, Irish Times

`Here are the best anecdotes, told with wit, charm and occasionally pathos, which will entertain many readers other than opera lovers.' Day by Day

`This book is an absolute enjoyment for music lovers and a charming romp into operatic fact and fiction.' Basil Leverton, Cape Argus

`This is a delightful book for dipping into...an excellent book for post-prandial good humour.' Opera Now

Descripción Oxford University Press Inc, United States, 1989. Paperback. Estado de conservación: New. Reprint. 208 x 138 mm. Language: English . Brand New Book ***** Print on Demand *****.Would you take Verdi s advice on how to write an opera? What happened to Caruso in the San Francisco earthquake? There are tales both funny and informative in this delightful collection - a must for all opera fans. Nº de ref. de la librería AAV9780195056617

Descripción Oxford University Press Inc, United States, 1989. Paperback. Estado de conservación: New. Reprint. 208 x 138 mm. Language: English . Brand New Book ***** Print on Demand *****. Would you take Verdi s advice on how to write an opera? What happened to Caruso in the San Francisco earthquake? There are tales both funny and informative in this delightful collection - a must for all opera fans. Nº de ref. de la librería AAV9780195056617

Descripción Oxford Paperbacks, 1989. PAP. Estado de conservación: New. New Book. Shipped from US within 10 to 14 business days. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000. Nº de ref. de la librería IQ-9780195056617

Descripción Oxford University Press, 1988. Estado de conservación: New. Brand New, Unread Copy in Perfect Condition. A+ Customer Service! Summary: "A charming romp through opera legends, some fact, some fiction, all delightfully assembled and sparklingly presented."--Schuyler G. Chapin"A charming romp through opera legends, some fact, some fiction, all delightfully assembled and sparklingly presented. An opera lovers' handbook that should always be near at hand."--Schuyler G. Chapin"[An] entertaining anthology of opera fact and fiction.The author obviously relishes his task and has chosen the material well."--Library Journal"Entertaining and frequently insightful.A very fine book; it is well worth reading."--Best Sellers"Mordden, who knows his way around backstage.has gleefully amassed hundreds of such anecdotes, exchanges and choice bits of opera lore."--Time"Mordden.has collected some of the most famous anecdotes--fact and fiction--to keep the conversation at many a music-lover's table humming."--Daily Press, Newport News, VA"A thoroughly charming and light-hearted panorama of fact and fiction."--The Evening Gazette, Worcester, MA"Mordden is one of the more entertaining--at times outrageous--popular writers on opera.He writes with authority and conviction.Highly entertaining."--Opera Journal"Romping good fun."--Buffalo News"A rare and delightful tour through the world of opera, led by a writer who has a firm grasp of his subject and tells his tales with alternate wit and poignancy.A wealth of information, as well as some lore about virtually every phase of opera life and production."--Charleston Evening Post"An entertaining collection for the opera lover or for the after-dinner speaker to mine for amusing stories."--Antiquarian Bookman. Nº de ref. de la librería ABE_book_new_0195056612

Descripción Oxford Paperbacks, 1989. PAP. Estado de conservación: New. New Book. Delivered from our UK warehouse in 3 to 5 business days. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000. Nº de ref. de la librería LQ-9780195056617

Descripción Oxford University Press, USA. Paperback. Estado de conservación: New. Paperback. 288 pages. Dimensions: 8.2in. x 5.4in. x 1.0in.From backstage squabbles and box-office chicanery to the gallantry and glory of creation, this book unveils a delightful panorama of opera lore, alternately hilarious, poignant, and wise. Ethan Mordden has mined the literature for the best stories and retells them in the fresh and witty style that prompted Publishers Weekly to hail him as one of the most entertaining and provocative writers around. Mordden has selected a vast collection of classic, arcane and unusual anecdotes, including Giuseppe Verdis advice on how to run an opera house and how to write an aria, Enrico Carusos adventures in the San Francisco earthquake, Arturo Toscaninis reunion dinner with his former lover Geraldine Farrar, and Beverly Sills ad libbing from the Met balcony during a Lily Pons Lakm. The volume contains sad stories, too, as when Hans von Blow confronts his wife Cosima after she has left him for Wagner; and silly stories, as when Colonel Henry Mapleson attempts to put on Il Trovatore while missing one of the four principals, Azucena. We see history being made when Glucks psychological orchestration so startles the Paris Opra orchestra that the players trail off in astonishment; and we see history nearly unmade when Luciano Pavarottis plane crashes en route to Milan. There is history here, Mordden notes, for if many of the tales are silly, many others are telling. They bring us close to a moment in which art is invented, revised, elaborated. The characters of operas adventures are so vital and stimulating that almost anything they do enlightens us. This item ships from multiple locations. Your book may arrive from Roseburg,OR, La Vergne,TN. Paperback. Nº de ref. de la librería 9780195056617